Being Grateful In The Midst

When I reflect upon life, I realize there are many times where the storm is rough and where there seems to be no hope in sight. Life seems to throw lemons in our faces. Nothing is going the way we want. We don't have a job. We're stressed out and overwhelmed. We feel like we are perishing because there is no vision. In these moments, we ask ourselves when will the promise come. When will the prophesies come to pass?

In the midst of this, being grateful is the key to surviving and overcoming. Being thankful in the midst of our storm brings a reassurance and peace to our hearts that everything is going to be ok. Everything is actually working out for our good even though we can't see it. The truth is, we don't need to see it. For what is faith then, if we walk by sight? 

Gratefulness strengthens our faith. When we thank God for all the things He has done for us, our faith grows stronger. When we thank God for bringing us through each storm, all doubts and fears begin to fade away. Life is a faith journey. It's a journey where we must have the right attitude and posture in order for us to see the promise. 

The people of Israel waited for the promise land for a number of years. During that time, they walked in the wilderness for forty years with an attitude of complaining and grumbling. They were discontented with their present situation. They didn't even thank God for bringing them out of  Egypt where they were in slavery and bondage. It's quite surprising that they would complain, isn't it? 

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3 (NKJV)

They were not grateful. Their minds were set on their past worldly experience that seemed to be joyous but really they were blinded. They forgot about the numerous beatings from the Egyptians, the long days working in the sun and the many times that they wondered if it would ever end. Truly you would think that they would be grateful but they weren't. As a result, they never got to see the promise land. They never saw the land flowing with milk and honey.

Grumbling is an attitude that we must be aware of. We don't want to miss what God has for us because we complained. In the midst of every storm, God is there. He knows best. He sees the end from the beginning. 

An attitude of gratefulness will sustain and carry us through. It will bring us to the promise. In everything, give thanks and be grateful!

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

It Will Happen

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

 When God wants it to happen, it will happen. 

There are many promises and words that have been spoken over our lives that we are eagerly waiting to come to pass. We could possibly say that we are waiting patiently but the truth is we really aren't. We keep asking when will this happen? When will I get my big break? When will I see these prophetic words come to pass?

We don't have to worry ourselves with these questions. For God is not slack concerning His promises. When He wants it to happen, it will happen. God is good and He makes everything beautiful in His time. He takes ashes and makes beauty. He takes clay and makes pottery. Every word that He has spoken, will not return unto Him void.

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void,but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

For the past year, I have been trying to write. But every time, it would feel like a block. If you're a writer, then you know how difficult this could be. You want to write but nothing is coming. You want to write but there is no inspiration at all. After a while, I just surrendered and used that time as a break to refocus and reenergize. I basically waited. Sometimes, we just have to wait it out. We just have to wait on God. Those who wait upon the Lord, will never be put to shame. He will not fail us. 


There is beauty in waiting. There is something that is birthed in us that transforms us into the image of Christ. This is not to say that it will be easy but it will be worth it. It will be worth it because we know that God knows best. He knows what is best for us in this current season that we are in. We must not lose heart but rather, war with the prophecies that have been spoken over our lives (1 Timothy 1:18). Contend for them in prayer and believe in the word that has been spoken. 

When God wants it to happen, it will happen. 

The Glory Revealed

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NKJV)

Many of us go through the storm. We go through the trials and tribulations of life and ask ourselves when will it end. When will my mind and body be free? When will I be happy?

Romans 8 encourages us in the fact that it will all be worth it. In the end, every difficult situation that we go through, it will all be worth it. It will be worth it because we will come out as conquers refined in the fire like gold. In order for gold to get to its glorified state, it has to go through the fire. We have to go through the fire so that we would become more like Christ. It is taking up our cross, denying ourselves and following Him. 

All of this is true. However, when we are in the storm, we begin to doubt what we believe. We wonder if it will all be worth it because we really can't see anything good coming out of it. Further down in Romans 8, it says that all things work together for good to those who love God. Everything is working for our good. For we do not look at the temporal things but the things that are eternal. 

Our God is a good good Father. He is never going to let us down. He is never going to leave us. He will always provide a way of escape so that we would be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. God is taking us from glory to glory. We are being transformed into the image of His Son and becoming all that He  has called us to be. We may only see the darkness in the tunnel but there is a light at the end that we will only see when we press through. 

Pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus should be our goal. We can't give up. We can't give in but we must endure until the end. For the latter shall be greater than the former.